London (PTI): The German who tore the head off a Hitler wax figure at the new Madame Tussauds museum in Berlin said he did so to protest fascism and "to win a bet".

"Politically, I lean to the left, but I'm not an extremist," Frank L., 41, told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper after being released from police custody on Saturday evening, hours after he disrupted the museum's opening by beheading the Hitler waxwork which reportedly cost USD 3,14,000 to make.

Frank had apparently made a bet to rip off the statute's head a day prior to the museum's opening, 'The Local' reported on its web site. His girlfriend, Yvonne B., 30, said she was "proud" of what he had done.

"He'd been in a foul mood for days because of the Hitler figure," she told the paper. "Normally, he's a peaceful, helpful, loving person."

Frank later told the paper that he'd been particularly incensed that the Hitler waxwork was located so close to Berlin's Jewish Museum. He added that he was sorry a security guard had been injured in the scuffle and he didn't intend to hurt anyone, the web site reported.

Just three minutes after the museum opened its doors, Frank, who had been second in line, ran up to the wax figure seated behind a desk, screaming "No more war!".

"He threw himself over the desk and grabbed the wax figure, and started pulling at its head," an eye witness said.

The Hitler waxwork was removed and visitors left to stare at a vacant desk meant to portray the dictator's last days in a bunker as the Red Army closed in on Berlin.

Madame Tussauds spokesperson said a decision on whether or put the figure back on display will be made on Monday as it would depend on the extent of the damage.